Library Of Religious Biography Volume 3: The Life Of St Stanislas Kostka Of The Society Of Jesus CONTENTS. Advertisement List Of Boudon's Published Works xiii CHAPTER I. BOUDON'S CHILDHOOD TO THE AGE OF TWELVE YEARS. Self-abnegation the essence of sanctity. This quality conspicuous in Boudon. Character of his parents. He has a princess for his godmother. Is placed under the protection of the Blessed Virgin. His precocious piety. Removal of his family from Ficardy to Normandy. An adventure on the road. Death of his father; his mother's second marriage, and neglect of her boy. He becomes the guide and the teacher of other children. Takes St. John as his patron, and vows to imitate him in all things. His love of purity and tenderness of conscience. Spirit of his devotion. God Alone ; how he understood these words. Maturity of his sanctity even in childhood page 1 CHAPTER II. BOUDON'S LIFE IN M. DUHAVEL'S PENSION. He is sent to school at Rouen. Is admitted into P. Gaspard's Congregation. Suffers from the niggardly conduct of his stepfather. Instructs children and poor women in the mysteries of the faith. His success in leading the latter to » high degree of piety. His compassion for the sick and poor; a touching instance of this. His influence with his fellow-pupils. Their devotional and ascetical practices. Boudon's heroic charity. His gift of prayer. Veneration for the holy angels. Interior trials. He is wrongfully accused and punished. His zeal in protecting a young Calvinist widow from assaults on her virtue ; her conversion. He is compelled by indigence to quit the pension. Applies to M. Le Tanneur page 17 CHAPTER III. BOUDON'S RESIDENCE WITH M. LE TANNEUR AND HIS REMOVAL TO PARIS. He makes many pious acquaintances. His penitential spirit and love of poverty. His attraction to the Franciscan Order. He discourses sublimely respecting its founder. Consecration of himself to the Divine service. He repairs to Paris ; takes P. Bagot as his director. The eminent gifts of that holy man, as shown in his disciples. Boudon's extreme penury; overlooked by his associates. He falls ill, and is kindly tended by them; his sickbed a school of sanctity. The association takes the form of a community. Boudon is chosen superior. The rules approved by P. Bagot ; beneficial effects of such societies. Boudon inspires the associates with a special devotion to the Holy Heart of Mary. They apply themselves to temporal and spiritual works of mercy page 33 CHAPTER IV. BOUDON'S LIFE IN PARIS FROM HIS EIGHTEENTH TO HIS TWENTY-FOURTH YEAR. Brother Claude ; his destitute condition. His dependence on Divine Providence. He places himself under the guidance of P. Conde'; his wonderful progress in grace and extraordinary eloquence in regard to spiritual things. His close application to God ; miraculous favour accorded to him ; his abstraction of mind. Boudon and his associates maligned. Impression produced upon them by communication with P. Alexandre de Rhodes ; first germ of the Seminary of Foreign Missions. Secret of Boudon's influence ; a participation in the royalty of Jesus. He offers himself for missionary labours. Strives to fortify his comrades for their life of self-sacrifice. Devotion to the Holy Heart of Mary meets with opposition. The associates remove the feast from their calendar ; Boudon's unavailing remonstrances. Visit to the tomb of Sister Margaret of the Holy Sacrament. Dissolution of the community. Boudon's sorrow at the failure of his cherished project. His conformity to the Divine will page 49 CHAPTER V. BOUDON BECOMES AN INMATE OF M. DE MONTMORENCY'S HOUSE — HIS LIFE AT THIS PERIOD. His intimate relations with his former associates. He shrinks from entering the clerical state. His charity to a sick boy. He is again in extreme poverty. Begs at the door of Notre Dame. M. de Montmorency offers him a home. Respect with which he is treated by the family. The general veneration entertained for him. He is consulted by religious and other spiritual persons. The Mere Mechtilde proposes to institute the Perpetual Adoration ; opposition thereto ; she begs Boudon to consult with M. de Bernidres. Some account of that saintly man; his director, P. Jean Chrysostome; Confraternity of Holy Abjection. De Bernieres's resignation of his property ; his purity of conscience. The Hermitage ; occupations of its inmates. M. de Bernieres's remarkable death. His writings ; Boudon's opinion of them. TheDuchesse de Bouillon; her vow page 66 CHAPTER VI. BOUDON IS APPOINTED ARCHDEACON OF EVREUX, AND RECEIVES ORDINATION. His happiest days. The Abbe' de Laval is sent to Canada ; he presses Boudon to accept his archdeaconry; Boudon at length consents. He enters the clerical state ; his feelings on the subject. Story of his cloak. His letter to the Cures of Evreux ; offering of his archdeaconry to the Blessed Mother of God. His fervent act of self-dedication. How his pious effusions ought to be regarded. He is ordained priest ; his sentiments thereon. Suspicions entertained as to his abilities. A little conspiracy defeated. Character of Boudon's preaching. Its powerful effects. Conversion of the Sieur de Pressac, and of a young lady of Evreux. Boudon's influence as a director page 86 CHAPTER VII. STATE OF THE DIOCESE OF EVREUX — OBSTACLES TO BOUDON'S EFFORTS FOR REFORM. His preparation for Mass. Description of his manner in celebrating. Visit to M. de Levis. Testimony rendered by Adrien Bonrdoise. Importance of ecclesiastical training; scandal of priestly irreverence. Disgraceful condition of churches, cemeteries, and domestic chapels. Prevalence of distressing abuses. Boudon's austerities during his visitations. His zeal for the House of God ; necessity of catechising. Frequent popular instructions. Boudon's tenderness to sinners. Difficulties with the clergy ; their selfish indifference. Inertness of the aged bishop. Resistance offered to reform. Boudon's habitual reliance on Providence ; how evinced. Criticisers rebuked page 106 CHAPTER VIII. BOUDON AS A DIRECTOR AND A MISSIONARY. His zeal in selecting youths for the ecclesiastical state. Qualifications of a true director. Boudon's spiritual discernment. His prescience respecting souls suffering from interior trials. Two examples of this. Results of his preaching to mixed congregations. His manner of dealing with individual souls. Reserve in regard to women. An act of profanation repaired ; Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament. Friends who assisted Boudon in his good works. His attraction to missionary labours. His mission in Flanders. Spirit in which he made his journeys ; visits to tombs of saintly persons. Relations with numerous convents page 125 CHAPTER IX THE NEW BISHOP OF EVREUX — OPPOSITION EXCITED AGAINST BOUDON — HIS ILLNESS. Character of Mgr. de Maupas. He consults Boudon in drawing up regulations for the clergy. Reposes entire confidence in him. Boudon directs the Carmelite nuns of Pont Audemer. Importance of observing their vow of poverty. Precautions necessary in admitting novices. The Bishop, before going to Rome, appoints Boudon Vicar-General. Prevalence of Jansenism. Its subtle and pernicious workings. Boudon regarded with enmity by the clergy. His authority supported by the Bishop. Is seized with sudden illness, and taken to Mme. de Fourneaux'a house; receives the Last Sacraments; resigns his archdeaconry. His marvelous recovery. He visits the tomb of St. Gaudentius. His dream of the cross ; he goes to Mont St. Michel. Resumes his archdeaconry page 141 CHAPTER X. BOUDON THE VICTIM OF CALUMN — BEHAVIOUR OF THE BISHOP. Feminine scandal Boudon attacked in a scurrilous pamphlet. Becomes the object of unjust suspicions. Return of the Bishop; his distressing doubts. Boudon's passive attitude. His moderation and forbearance misconstrued. Testimony of Mme. Lefevre. The Bishop's irresolution. Probable cause of his weakness. Boudon denounced from the pulpit ; his undisturbed tranquillity and self-humiliation. Pressure brought to bear upon the Bishop. He resolves to summon a meeting of clergy ; injustice of the proceeding. Boudon requested to resign his post of Vicar-General. He refuses; the Bishop again summons the clergy, who advise that his powers be revoked ; at the solicitation of the Bishop he agrees to resign. Artful suggestions of his enemies. The Bishop deposes him from his office. Boudon's state of mind on the occasion. Death of his mother page 162 CHAPTER XI. CLAUDE PETIT — MME. DE FOURNEAUX A strange discovery. Testimony rendered to Claude by her Benedictine director and by the people of Evreux. Her temptations and trials. She resolves to assume male attire ; her director consults a Jesuit Father. Counsels and precautions. She is falsely accused ; her character vindicated ; she goes to Evreux. Boudon calumniated at her death. Shame and derision a special ingredient in the Passion. Ill will displayed by the Bishop. Intemperate behaviour of Mme. de Fourneaux. Boudon made responsible for it. Is forbidden to act as her director. His resolution on the subject. Wilful proceedings of Mme. de Fourneaux. Boudon forbidden to preach or hear confessions. Deserted in his illness. Waited upon by Mme. de Fourneaux. The meanness of human nature. Boudon's comments on the treatment he receives. Bosguerard confesses his weakness page 183 CHAPTER XII. COMPLETE ESTRANGEMENT OF THE BISHOP — BOUDON'S REFUSAL TO RESIGN HIS ARCHDEACONRY — MME. DE FOURNEAUX'S INDISCRETIONS AND FINAL ALIENATION OF MIND. Boudon's views on his abandonment. He regards it as a favour of Divine Providence. The Carmelites of Pont Audemer choose another director. Testimonies of confidence from religious communities and old friends. Valueless in the Bishop's eyes. He requests Boudon to resign his archdeaconry, and offers him another benefice ; Boudon's reflections thereon. He resolves to remain. P. Eudes takes against him. Urges him to leave the diocese. Penury of Mme. de Fourneaux relieved by Boudon. His love for Evreux. Mission at Angers a complete success. His extraordinary popularity. Mme. de Fourneaux publishes ridiculous pamphlets. Boudon's determination respecting her; his opinion of her state. Her wild behaviour, and ultimate loss of mind page 205 CHAPTER XIII. THE BISHOP'S ACTIVE ENMITY AGAINST BOUDON, AND ITS HUMILIATING RESULTS — BEHAVIOUR OF BOUDON THROUGHOUT HIS TRIALS. The Bishop's efforts to destroy Boudon's reputation. Results of his incriminations. His conduct inexcusable. He endeavours to estrange Boudon's friends at Rouen ; reserve of the Archbishop. Boudon insulted by ecclesiastics and others. Treated as an outcast. Maligned and calumniated. Bosguerard's fidelity. The Bishop's attempt to debar him from holy orders defeated. Boudon's vindication humanly hopeless. His charity and generosity to his accusers. Delicacy of the Spirit of God. Boudon's self-reproaches. His sensibility and patience page 222 CHAPTER XIV. BOUDON'S PERSEVERANCE IN THE DISCHARGE OF HIS OFFICE — HIS CHARACTER VINDICATED. Difficulty of Boudon's position. His official vigilance and zeal ; his rights disputed and resisted. Rebellious conduct of the Cures. Boudon's knowledge of canon law ; his firmness in upholding the prerogatives of his office. His disinterested renouncement of just claims. His own high attractions, not imposed on others. Total absence of self-justification ; he commits his cause to Heaven ; his pilgrimages, and devotion to St. Taurinus. Many of his works written at this period ; the value he attached to spiritual books. His preference for a life of neglect and contempt. His character completely vindicated ; full particulars wanting ; return of former friends. Fall and repentance of Boudon's worst accuser. He takes Boudon for his confessor, and dies in his arms. The Bishop publicly testifies his restored confidence. Bosgugrard's brevity on this subject page 242 CHAPTER XV. BOUDON RESUMES HIS WORK OF THE MISSIONS— HIS SUCCESS IN PREACHING, AND HIS VIEWS ON THAT SUBJECT. Utter defeat of Boudon's enemies; public opinion, mode of its formation. The Cures return to their obedience. Boudon's silence and equanimity. His joy of the spiritual order. His sensitiveness to the action of grace. Publication of his longer works. He resumes his missionary labours. His simple style of preaching. His zeal for individual souls. Death of Mgr. de Maupas ; Boudon delivers a panegyric upon him. The new Bishop of Evreux ; his high esteem of the Archdeacon. Missions in Brittany, Lorraine, and Flanders. None of Boudon's sermons extant ; in what seme they were unprepared. Hies success in preaching, whence derived. He regards himself as the mere instrument of God. Sorrow at ill success a temptation of self-love page 261 CHAPTER XVI. BOUDON'S VISIT TO BAVARIA. The Duchess of Bavaria invitee Boudon to her Court ; much interest excited. He venerates at Metz the relics of St. Henry Emperor. Converts from Protestantism numerous at Strasburg. The ducal carriage. Boudon passes through a Lutheran country; adores the Divine judgments. Remnants of Catholic truths and usages. Prosperity of Protestant districts; Boudon's remarks thereon. Reformed calendar not adopted at Ulm ; Boudon reaches Tirckheim. A saintly Court; piety of the people. Devotion to the Immaculate Conception. Pilgrimage a Catholic instinct ; Boudon's view of this material world. The miraculous Host of Augsburg. Our Lady's shrine at CKtting. The Munich churches. Divine love the topic of Boudon's sermons. His books much read in Germany. Wealth and security of the higher clergy page 281. CHAPTER XVII. BOUDON'S RETURN TO EVREUX — HIS SERIOUS ILLNESS AND MULTIPLIED CORRESPONDENCE. Veneration entertained for Boudon by the Bavarian Court. He visits an Ursuline convent ; reaches Nantes in a state of fever; is lodged near the nuns of Notre Dame du Refuge. Supernatural blessings vouchsafed through his prayers. His laborious occupations. Extraordinary intervention of Divine Providence in his regard. Instances of this. Protection in danger. He incurs a serious internal injury. Is obliged to give up distant missions. Lives of three saintly persons. Reasons for writing that of Elisabeth de Ranfaing. Value set on his letters and writings. Devotional practices adopted in Italy In consequence. Mgr. de Laval suffers crosses analogous to those of Boudon. The spirit in which he bore them page 300 CHAPTER XVIII. BOUDON'S GIFT OF DIRECTION — HIS POVERTY AND ISOLATION. Good direction, not a talent, but a gift ; bow it ought to be cultivated. Importance attached by Boudon to the office of director. His view of the liberty to be allowed to penitents. His practice equally removed from indulgence and rigour. Rebuke administered to Bosguerard. How he profited by his friend's counsels. Boudon treated with coldness and neglect at Evreux ; conjectures as to the causes of this. His own account of it. He is little visited. His exalted piety not appreciated. His want of interest in aught save God. His love of solitude. Description of his lodging. Names of devoted friends. He refuses benefices and a pension. Motives for never leaving Evreux page 318 CHAPTER XIX. BOUDON'S INCREASING INFIRMITIES — RESIGNATION OF HIS ARCHDEACONRY. His courage and heroic fortitude under sufferings. Bosguerard intimates to him his danger ; his holy indifference. Prophetic import of his exhortations ; an instance of this. Warning to a worldly priest. Boudon's exalted notions of God's purity and justice. He is reduced to making his visitations in a wheelchair. Confession of a fault. Death of his old guide. His labour now, not to do, but to endure ; he nominates his successor. His last visitation. His joy at his successor's favourable reception page 336 CHAPTER XX. BOUDON'S CONCLUDING DAYS AND DEATH. The Chritien Inconnu his last publication. His bodily sufferings dear to him. His equanimity ; and desire to make his death conformable to that of Jesus. He receives the Viaticum. His charitable solicitude for his friends. His state of abandonment, and obedience to his physicians. He is carried to the cathedral for Communion ; becomes worse, and receives Extreme Unction; last ineffectual attempts to afford him relief. His undiminished interest in hie special devotions. His vocation, to resist the Jansenistie spirit in relation to the Blessed Virgin ; he continues this work to the end. He deplores the spread of false doctrines. His zeal for the interests of Holy Church. ; his prophetic words. Visit of the Bishop of Bayeux. Boudon's last moments page 350 CHAPTER XXI. HONOURS PAID TO BOUDON AFTER HIS DEATH. Letter of M. Chanoine ; honours shown to Boudon's remains. His portrait ; his will ; his obsequies. Universal sorrow at his loss. Testimonies of old associates. Devotion at his tomb ; it falls into oblivion; how revived. New editions of his works; tablet erected to his memory. Finding of the urn containing his heart ; it exhales a sweet perfume. The Bishop of Evreux orders his Life to be written ; epitaphs placed near and on his tomb. His relics escape profanation at the Revolution ; removal of the urn. Revival of devotion to the holy angels page 36 CHAPTER XXII. THE SPIRIT OF BOUDON AND OF HIS WRITINGS. God Alone his motto. His personal appearance. Quality of his mental powers. His simplicity; his whole character harmonious. Concentration of his mind on God. Creatures viewed in reference to Him. His attractions to divine love. His abiding peace. Special devotion to the Holy Ghost. His love of his neighbour ; his liberality and gratitude. His sincere self -contempt. His meekness and humility. The value he set on crosses. His acceptance of mortifications ; his prudence and tenderness with others. His unremitting prayer. Aspirations for the coming of God's kingdom. Boudon a primitive Christian ; Apostolic character of his letters. His writings the transcript of himself page 384 Digitized by Google.

I. The life of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, of the Society of Jesus. 8th ed. -- (S. d.) ; II. The life of Marie-Eustelle Harpain, the sempstress of Saint-Pallais. 4th ed. -- (S. d.) ; III. The life of St. Stanislas Kostka, of the Society of Jesus. 3rd ed. -- (S. d.) ; IV. The life of the Bon de Renty... 2nd ed. -- 1881 ; V. The life of the venerable Anna Maria Taigi,... 1769-1837. 3rd ed. -- 1879. Portrait ; VI. The life of Marie Lataste, lay-sister of the congregation of the Sacred Heart. -- 1877 ; VII. The life of Henri-Marie Boudon, archdeacon of Évreux. -- 1880 ; VIII. The life of Léon Papin-Dupont, the holy man of Tours. 3rd ed. -- (S. d.) ; IX. The life of Jean-Baptiste Muard, founder of the Congregation of St. Edme and of the monastery of La Pierre-qui-vire. -- 1886

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